Percutaneous access device

ABSTRACT

Device for sterile and leakproof interconnection in a resilient seal (5) enclosed by a cutaneous passageway (1) implanted in the body, of an inner (3) and an outer (2) catheter for supply of a drug or the like from an external container, ampoule or the like to a predetermined locality in the body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for interconnection of anouter catheter having a rigid end portion, and an inner catheter in acutaneous passageway to be implanted in the body, for supply of drugs orthe like. More particularly the invention relates to a cutaneouspassageway for interconnection of an internal space inside the body andan external space outside the body, including a resilient, elastic sealenclosed in the passageway and forming a passage therethrough to receivean outer catheter therein, said passage reclosing by withdrawal of theouter catheter therefrom, and screw means for compressing said seal.

A passageway of this type is disclosed in FR-A-2135326.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In connection with FIG. 6 of the drawings in the internationalapplication PCT/SE87/00201 a cutaneous passageway is shown having acatheter for supply for example of a drug to the human body from anexternal container, ampoule or the like. The supply of a drug must takeplace under sterile conditions, and a suitable method is to exchange theouter catheter together with the drug container in the cutaneouspassageway. This purpose is achieved according to the present inventionby the cutaneous passageway having obtained the characterizing featuresof claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In order to illustrate the invention this will be described in moredetail below reference being made to the accompanying drawing in which

FIG. 1 shows the cutaneous passageway partly cut away, and the locationthereof in the body before the outer catheter has been connected to thecutaneous passageway, and

FIG. 2 shows the cutaneous passageway of FIG. 1 but with the outercatheter connected thereto in order to allow communication with theinner catheter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The outside shape of the cutaneous passageway 1 appears from theinternational application PCT/SE87/00201.

The novel feature of the present invention is the sealing device in thecutaneous passageway 1, which is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in order tosupply in a sterile and leakproof manner via catheters 2 and 3 forexample a drug to a predetermined locality in the body through thecutaneous passageway 1.

The outer catheter 2 has at the connection end thereof a tube 4 of arigid material, which is intended to penetrate the seal 5 provided inthe cutaneous passageway 1, said seal comprising an elastomer, forexample silicone, which recloses and seals when the outher catheter 2 isbeing exchanged or when the outer catheter 2 has been removed. The seal5 is kept in place in the cutaneous passageway 1 by a threaded screw cap6 which is screwed into the outer cylinder 8 which is attached to thebase plate 12 of the cutaneous passageway 1 and by means of which thesealing properties in relation to the friction against the connectionend 4 of the outer catheter 2 can be controlled. This control isobtained by rotating the screw cap 6 by means of a special tool fittinginto recesses 7 in the screw cap 6. The friction against the connectionend 4 at the penetration of the seal 5 should be as low as possible soas to prevent the zone 9 for tissue penetration of the cutaneouspassageway 1 from coming loose from the body. For the same reason thediameter of the rigid end 4 of the outer catheter 2 should not exceed 3mm. The seal 5 must also seal against the attachment plate 10 of theinner catheter 3 so as to prevent leakage or passage of bacteria intothe passage system 11 of the catheters 2 and 3.

The seal 5 biases the attachment plate 10 against the base of the outercylinder 8. The seal 5 can be made with a central aperture which isclosed by tight fit at the mounting in the cutaneous passageway 1 andforms a guide only for the connection end 4 at the interconnection inthe cutaneous passageway 1.

We claim:
 1. A cutaneous device for interconnection of an internal spaceinside the body and an external space outside said body, comprising:athreaded cylinder substantially open at the top and having a smalleropening at the base; a subcutaneous base plate attached to said base ofsaid threaded cylinder; a screw cap with an opening in the top and athreaded portion on the base for engaging with said threaded cylinder; aresilient, elastic seal enclosed in said screw cap with a passage formedtherethrough in alignment with said opening in said top of said screwcap; an outer catheter having a rigid end portion passing through saidopening in said screw cap and said passage, whereby said passage closeswhen said outer catheter is withdrawn therefrom; a plate with anopening, interposed between said base of said outer cylinder and saidseal, said plate opening in alignment with said passage, a seat formedin the top of said plate adjacent to said opening for receiving therigid end portion of said outer catheter, whereby said plate forms asupport means for said seal and pressure on said seal is increased byadvancing said threads of said screw cap onto said cutaneous device; andan inner catheter passing through said opening in said base of saidouter cylinder and connected to said opening in the bottom of saidplate, whereby said inner catheter is in communication with saidpassage.
 2. The cutaneous device of claim 1, wherein said pressure onsaid seal is decreased by retracting said threads of said screw cap fromsaid cutaneous device.